EDUCATION:
Southern State College (Southern Arkansas University) Magnolia
Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, B.S., 1969
Memphis State University Law School, Memphis
University of Arkansas Law School, Little Rock
University of Arkansas Law School, Fayetteville, J.D., 1975
(Course work completed, December 1974)
ATTORNEY LICENSES:
State of Arkansas, 1975
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas, 1976
8th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1981
Certified Mediator in all Arkansas Courts
Arkansas Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission
Mediator Certificate #CRT-2004-13
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
American Bar Association
American Counsel Association
Arkansas Bar Association
Arkansas Bar Foundation, Fellow, Former Director-1988-1998,
member of Trust Committee, 2007-2010
Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association
Arkansas Volunteer Lawyers for the Elderly
Greene-Clay Bar Association, Past President-1978-1979
Legal Services of Northeast Arkansas, Pro Bono Panel
Northeast Arkansas Bar Association, Past President -1988-1992
The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
The Fellows of the Young Lawyers (ABA)
Arkansas Conflict Resolution Association
ARKANSAS BAR ASSOCIATION POSITIONS:
President -1996-1997
Young Lawyers Section, Chair-1980-1981
House of Delegates, Tenured Delegate
Executive Council Member, Past member
Board of Governors, ex-officio member, 2010-2014
Family Law Section, Past Chair
Family Law Section, Legislative Liaison
Jurisprudence and Law Reform Committee, Former Member
Social Security Committee, Former Vice Chair
Annual Meeting Committee, Former Member
Financial Institution Section, Former Member
Domestic Relations Manual Committee, Past Chair
Membership Committee, Past Chair
Judicial Council Liaison Committee, 1997-2014, Past Chair
Organization and Redistricting Committee, Chair, 1999-2000
Judicial Article Task Force, 1998-2000
Amendment 80 Implementation Committee, 2000-2004
Committee for Responding to Unfair Criticism of Judge and
the Courts, Chair, 2004-2014
Governor’s Task Force for a New Constitution (1995)
Judicial Election Task Force, 2011-2014
Bar Leadership Academy, co-chair, 2011; faculty member,
2011-2013
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION POSITIONS:
YLS - Affiliate Outreach Project -Contributing Editor-1980
House of Delegates: Arkansas Bar Association Delegate,
1997-2000, 2010-2014
State Delegate, Arkansas, 2000-2009
Board of Governors, 2014-2017
Board of Governors, Class of 2017
Operations and Communications Committee
Senior Law Division, Liaison
Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress, Liaison
Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education, Liaison
Executive Committee, Conference of State Bar Delegates 2003-2006
Nominating Committee of the House, 2000-2009
House Drafting Committee, 2000-2004
House Technology Committee, 2006-2007
Steering Committee of the Nominating Committee, 2004–2006
Steering Committee on the Unmet Legal Needs of Children, 1997
Standing Committee on Federal Judicial Improvements, 2005-2007
Standing Committee on Public Education, 2007 -2010
Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, 2010-2014
National Conference of Bar Presidents, 1995-Present
Member, ABA Section of Family Law
Member, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution
Member, ABA Senior Lawyers Division
Member, Solo and General Practice Section
Member, Task Force on Membership, 2009
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES:
AICLE, Board of Directors, Former Member
Faculty Member, Fall Legal Institute, Mid-Year Meeting
Annual Meeting, and Practice Skills Seminars
Speaker, Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association Meetings (four)
Arkansas Professional Practicum faculty member
Best of CLE Speaker’s Award (fourteen)
ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENTS:
Committee on Mandatory Continuing Legal Education, 1991-1992
Family Law Committee on Specialization
Supreme Court Committee on Child Support -1985-1994, 1999-2008
(past chair)
Committee on Professional Conduct, 2000-2009 (past Chair,
Panel B)
IOLTA Board of Directors - Former Member
Professional Practicum Faculty Member, 2007-2012
MAJOR PRACTICE AREAS:
Family Law
Administrative Law
Regional Water Districts
Agricultural Drainage Law
Mediation
Business Organizations
Probate and Estate Planning
GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENTS:
Commissioner, Arkansas State Claims Commission, 2011-;
Co-Chair, 2014-
Arkansas Science & Technology Authority, 1985-1991,
Past Chair, 1990-91
Special Chief Justice, Arkansas Supreme Court, 1988
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:
Arkansas Science & Technology Authority, Past Chair-1990-1991
Paragould-Greene County Chamber of Commerce, President-1991-92;
Industrial Committee, Past Chair-1994-1995
Community Development Committee, Past Chair
Paragould Economic Development Corporation, board member,
2006-2014;
Chair, Planning Committee
Paragould Parks & Recreation Commission, Past Chair
Paragould Rotary Club, Accompanist and Song Leader;
Paul Harris Fellow
Arkansas State University Alumni Association, Past President
Arkansas State University Red Wolves Foundation
(formerly Indian Club)
Board of Directors, 2011-; Vice-President, 2014;
President, 2015-
Main Street Paragould, “Loose Caboose” Committee
Arkansas Governors’ Mansion Association, Board Member, 2011-
Pro-Bono Counsel, The Childrens’ Shelter, Walnut Ridge, AR
Pro-Bono Counsel, Lawrence County Tourism Committee,
“British Invasion of the Rock ‘n Roll Highway” project,
2010-
Arkansas Judicial Campaign Conduct and Education Committee, Inc.,
Board Member and Vice-President, 2015-
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES:
Arkansas Democratic Party, State Committee, 1976-1990;
Executive Committee, 1982-1988; Treasurer, 1986-1988;
Senior Democrats of Arkansas, President, 2011-
Affirmative Action-Delegate Selection Committee, Past Chair
Platform Committee, Past Chair
First Congressional District Caucus, Past Secretary
Alexander for Congress Committee, Campaign Manager
Clinton for Attorney General, County Coordinator
Clinton for Governor, County Coordinator
Clinton for President, County Coordinator, Arkansas Traveler
and Arkansas Ambassador to Washington State
Gore for President, Arkansas Counsel, 2000
Democratic Leadership Conference, Delegate, 1978
Democratic National Convention, Alternate Delegate, 1988
Democratic National Convention, Credentials Committee, 1992
Democratic National Convention, Platform Committee, 1996
Democratic National Convention, Delegate, 2000
PROFESSIONAL HONORS:
Best Lawyers in Arkansas, l998-2014, The Arkansas Times and
AY Magazine
Best Lawyers in America, (Woodward/White, Inc) 1999-2000 through
2013-2014 editions
Mid-South Super Lawyers, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Martindale-Hubble Recognition for 25+Years with “AV” rating
Arkansas Bar Association Awards:
Presidential Award of Excellence, 2014
Outstanding Lawyer-Citizen Award, 2002
Charles L. Carpenter Memorial Award, 2000, for Distinguished
Service to the House of Delegates
Golden Gavel Award
Greene County Volunteer of the Year, Legal Services of Northeast Arkansas, Pro-Bono Panel, 2001
Distinguished Alumnus, 1997, Arkansas State University,
Volunteer of the Year, 1995, Industrial Developers of Arkansas
Outstanding Personal Project in Historic Preservation, Arkansas
Historical Preservation Alliance, 2011
Best Interior Design Project, Old National Bank of Commerce Building, Main Street, Arkansas, 2012
Paragould Historical Trail, 2010 -
PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
Newspaper Journalist (part time and summers), 1961-1974, Walnut
Ridge Times Dispatch, Osceola Times, Jonesboro Sun and
Arkansas Gazette
Traveling Secretary (now Educational Consultant) Lambda Chi Alpha
Fraternity, Indianapolis, IN, 1969-1970
Congressional Aide, Congressman Bill Alexander (D-Ark),1970-1973,
Washington, DC, Little Rock, AR, and Jonesboro, AR
PERSONAL:
Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity
Phi Eta Sigma (Scholastic Fraternity)
Phi Alpha Delta (Legal Fraternity)
Current member, First United Methodist Church, Paragould, AR; Member of Church Council, 2010-2014, Chair, 2014;
Guitarist and vocalist with Bluegrass Praise Band;
Substitute liturgist and usher;
Chancel Choir
Former Member, First Presbyterian Church, Paragould, Arkansas:
Past Elder, Trustee, and Accompanist (Piano, Organ & Guitar)
Former Counsel to the Presbytery of Arkansas
Married (July 31, 1971) to the former Linda Lou Lipscomb of Blytheville
HOBBIES:
Travel, Photography, Music, and Sports
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